Fabulous specialist fashion museum with great access - UPDATE November 2019
4.5
4.5
Date of visit: April 2019
I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Excellent
The Fashion and Textile Museum is a specialist fashion museum. It has no permanent displays but has temporary displays which as installed for about 3 months. During this visit I saw Swinging London: A Lifestyle Revolution / Terence Conran – Mary Quant exhibition, which is on until 2 June 2019. Updated November 2019: Tweet from the Museum "shortly after @TinaWalksLondon visited us earlier in the year, we resolved the issue regarding the emergency chord in our accessible toilet - thanks again for bringing this to our attention. "
Disabled Access In and Around
Excellent
There is a step free entrance. In the entrance hall is a counter at standing height and a slight ramp into the museum. The museum itself is on 2 levels and there is a lift to the upper floor, or by stairs with a hand rail on both sides. There was some bench seating in the entrance hallway and the 1st floor, but no seating on the ground floor of the exhibition hall. The clothes are not in glass cases and it makes it easier to see the entire outfit. The aisles between the displays are quite wide and usually the museum is not too crowded at anyone time. The labels for the clothes/ items are low down to read. The museum is relatively small and only on 2 floors, so it is very manageable and easy to do.
Parking & Transport
Excellent
The nearest tube/ train station is London Bridge. London Bridge tube has limited step free access. From the tube/ train station take the St Thomas Street exit, and it's a 5 minute walk. There are several buses that stop nearby. The museum is a distinctive orange building, so it stands out and easy to find.
Accessible Toilets
Excellent
There is a ground floor accessible toilet. It is spacious and has grab rails including one by the sink. There is an emergency red cord but it had been cut and didn't reach to the floor. Updated November 2019: Tweet from the Museum "shortly after @TinaWalksLondon visited us earlier in the year, we resolved the issue regarding the emergency chord in our accessible toilet - thanks again for bringing this to our attention. "
Staff
Excellent
Staff were welcoming and friendly. At the ticket desk I was informed about the lift and invited to use it when I wanted to. I also went back to the staff on the ticket desk to speak to them about the red cord being too short and it was received positively, with the duty manager being called and re-assuring me that they would sort this out. We booked to attend the 1pm Friday highlights tour. Our guide was Eva, was amazing, she was very knowledgeable about the exhibition and provided some excellent social history background and insight into this period of history. She also asked me if I could manage the stairs before the tour started.
Additional Information
The museum is always a delight to visit. The Swinging London exhibition was a lot of fun to see. There is an admission fee. They regularly host special events. Highly recommend.
